Izmir
From Turkey Travel Guide
İzmir is a city in the Aegean Region of Turkey. İzmir, historically known as Smyrna, is Turkey's third most populous city and Turkey's second largest port after İstanbul.
Contents |
[edit] History
The 5,000 year-old city of Izmir is one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean egion. Called as Smyrna , the city was established in the third millennium BC and one of the most important cities of the Ionian Federation. It’s believed that famous epic poet Homer lived in Smyrna by then. In the fourth century BC, during the sovereignity of Alexander the Great, a new city was built around Kadifekale (Mt. Pagos) and finally in the first century B.C., Smyrna became an important city for the Roman Empire. In the first century AD, Smyrna was one of the earliest centers of Christianity. When Roman Empire split, the Byzantines started to rule the city in the 4th century and this continued until the Seljuks conquered Smyrna in the 11th century. Finally in 1415, the Ottomans conquered the city and Smyrna became a part of the Ottoman Empire. Beginning with the 16th century, the city became an important place in the world trade. The majority of city’s population were Greek but there were merchants from different origins including Greek, French, Italian, Dutch, Armenian, Sephardi and Jewish. The city started to be famous as one of the most important port cities of the world. Today, Izmir is known as "the pearl of Aegean" .
[edit]
Located along the Aegean Sea, Izmir has borders with the cities Aydın on the south, Manisa on the east and Balıkesir on the north. As a province it has got twelve metropolitan districts; Balçova, Bayraklı, Bornova, Buca, Çiğli, Gaziemir, Güzelbahçe, Karabağlar, Karşıyaka, Konak, Menemen, Narlıdere, and Torbalı. Izmir is situated on the West Coast of Anatolia and is encircled by the rich plains of the Aegean Region.
[edit] Getting there
[edit] By plane
Adnan Menderes Airport, 16km south of the city center, has several daily flights to Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. There are also regular flights from many European cities.
Airport buses (HAVAS) meet incoming flights and go to and from the city center for 10 lira (be sure to get off the bus in the centre of town, as the bus continues north to Tersana) and there are hourly trains to Alsancak Station.
There are also ESHOT buses run by the city council which are cheaper than HAVAS. It costs only 4 lira. Taxi costs at least 30 lira and up to the city center, it is the most expensive way of traveling from airport.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport Tel : +90 232 274 2187. Fax: +90 232 274 2071
[edit] By train
Train service from the airport is not efficient at the moment. But there is construction to connect current metro system. Izmir has two railway stations: Basmane in the city center is the major terminal for intercity trains, and Alsancak in the north is mainly a commuter and local route.
The main intercity services include: Ankara (Mavi Tren is the fastest at 14 hours), Denizli (3 express trains daily, 5-6 hours) and Isparta (9 hours). Trains for Istanbul connect with a ferry at Bandirma.
Basmane Station Tel: +90 232 484 8638 Alsancak Station Tel: +90 232 458 3131
[edit] By car
[edit] By bus
The bus station, or otogar, is 6km north east of town although there are plenty of dolmus that make the journey there from the centre. The bus station is huge and has an Internet cafe, plenty of facilities for food and drink and a large number of agencies selling tickets for coaches which, if departing imminently, they will be shouting out the destinations of. It also has pay toilets.
Buses to Istanbul take 9 hours (including a brief trip on a ferry) and travellers are provided with water, hot drinks, snacks and regular stops for toilets and food all for free on the better services for fares around 35YTL per person one way.
[edit] By boat
There is a weekly ferry from Istanbul-Izmir (19 hours), operating at weekends, and one or two weekly ferries between Izmir and Venice (67 hours). All ferries dock at the Alsancak Ferry Terminal, 2km north of the city center.
Alsansak Yeni Liman (terminal) Tel: + 90 232 464 8864 / 89. Fax: +90 232 464 7834.
[edit] Getting around
[edit] By car
Taxis (yellow cabs) are running all around the city but of course they're more expensive than public transport. You can also check available cabs online [1] in Izmir. The second option is available in every neighborhood you can find car hire companies.
[edit] By public transport
There are public buses (city) running all around the city for cheap fares. Public ferries are easy, fast, cheap and enjoyable with the view way along. There is also a short metro line between the city centre and the northeastern suburb of Bornova.
[edit] By foot
Walking in Izmir is highly recommended because of the beauty of the city.
[edit] By bike
[edit] Weather
Under the effects of the typical Mediterranean climate, Izmir has long, hot and dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Even though it's rare, it can snow in December, January or February for one or two days. Starting from May until October it's summer time with average day time temperatures of 30 °C or higher. The annual average rainfall is 706 mm (27.8 inches) and it usually rains between November and March.
(°F)
(55)
(56)
(62)
(70)
(79)
(88)
(92)
(91)
(85)
(76)
(65)
(57)
(°F)
(43)
(42)
(46)
(53)
(60)
(68)
(73)
(72)
(66)
(58)
(51)
(46)
(inches)
(4.7)
(3.5)
(3.1)
(1.9)
(1.0)
(0.3)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.7)
(1.7)
(4.4)
(5.3)
[edit] Neighborhoods
[edit] See
İzmir Archaeological Museum is located on Halil Rifat street in Konak district, and has exhibition halls, laboratories, warehouses, photography rooms, libraries, and conference halls cover an area of 5000 square meters, with over 1500 artifacts on display. In the collection there are findings from ancient city of Smyrna as well as from surrounding ancient sites such as Iasos, Pitane (Candarli), Pergamon, Myrina and Kyme (Aliaga), Ephesus, Larissa and Gryneion (Menemen), Kolophon, Teos (Seferihisar), Klazomenai (Urla), Foca, Metropolis, and Lebedos. The museum is open everyday except Mondays.
Ethnographical Museum is next to the Archaeological museum and housing to cultural objects from daily social life of Anatolian people housed in a 19th century Neoclassical building as well as many models of extinct or near extinct handicrafts due to the industrialization, such as; tinsmith, clog making, pottery, blue bead making, wood imprinting, carpet weaving, rope making, feltsmithery and saddlery.
Ataturk Museum is a Neoclassic style four-storey building on Ataturk Avenue in Alsancak district. Ataturk and Ismet Pasha stayed here for a while, during their visit to Izmir on 16th of June 1926.
Ahmet Piristina Museum of Metropolitan History and Archive is located in the old Fire Department office and dedicated to Mr. Ahmet Piristina, former Head of Izmir Municipality who died in 2004.
Selcuk Yasar Museum of Arts is named after Selcuk Yasar, one of the well-known businessman of Izmir, and there are various interesting paintings on display. The museum is open between 10 am to 7 pm, except on Sundays.
Museum of History and Art was opened to public in 2004 at Kulturpark for the exhibition of artifacts collected during excavations in and near Izmir.
Museum of Arts and Sculpture is also inside the Kulturpark and has many paintings, statues and ceramic works on display.
Railroad Museum is located in a four-floor stone building across the Alsancak train station.
Museum of Commercial History is the first commercial history museum in Turkey. The entrance to the museum is free of charge.
Umran Baradan Museum of Toys and Games is located in Varyant neighborhood of Konak district, in a mansion donated by Umran Baradan for this purpose. There are about one thousand pieces including wooden toys, small soldiers, miniature horses, toy cars, ships, tops, babies and many other old toys displayed in the museum, played by the Turkish children in the past, some of them dating back to 1860's.
Clock Tower is located at Konak Square as a landmark of Izmir. It was built by architect Raymond Charles Pere in 1901 to commemorate 25th year of enthronement of Ottoman sultan Abdulhamit I and has fountains on four sides.
Agora is the ancient market place, built in the 4th century BC to the north of Mt.Pagos (Kadifekale).
Tepekule (Smyrna) is the area of the first settlement of ancient Smyrna, dating back to 3000 BC.
Kadifekale (Pagos) is the catle with its five towers and southern walls, was restored several times by Byzantines, Seljuks, and finally Ottomans.
Kizlaragasi Han is an Ottoman building in Kemeralti neighborhood and was built by Kizlaragasi Haci Besir Aga in the 18th century as a caravanserai. It’s used as a handicrafts sales center today.
Hisar Mosque is one of the oldest monuments of the city built by Aydinoglu Yakup Bey towards the end of 16th century and located in the Kemeralti market area.
Originally built around 17th century right behind the harbor, Kemeralti Market is located in Konak district and it is the famous local shopping market in Izmir.
Havra Street is an important street in Kemeralti neighborhood which got its name from many Jewish synagogues (Havra in Turkish) that were built here.
Beth Israel Synagogue was built in 1905 by Nisim Levi in the Karatas quarter where an important Jewish community lived at the beginning of the 20th Century.
Anglican Church is the first Anglican church in Izmir which was built around 1625 by British Levantines of Smyrna.
Saint Polycarp Church is the oldest Christian church in Izmir which was built in 1625 with the permission of Sultan Suleyman of the Ottoman Empire and by the wish of King of France Louis 13th. It was dedicated to St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was martyred by Romans in 155 AD, near Kadifekale.
Asansor (Elevator) is an elevator tower which was built in 1907 and worth to see if you visit Izmir.
[edit] Do
Visit Alsancak District which was called "Punto" in the old times and a favourite place for Levantines, Greeks and Armenians. As an elegant residential area of Izmir, there's the famous "Kordon" street by the sea with nice bars and fine restaurants. Also Ataturk Museum, Museum of History and Arts, Selcuk Yasar Museum of Arts, Railroads Museum, Museum of Arts and Sculpture, Museum of Commercial History, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Museum of Metropolitan History and Archive are located in this district.
Karsiyaka District is situated on the north shore of the Izmir Gulf and it's another interesting place that can be visited in Izmir. There are many old houses and mansions with large gardens, St. Helen Church, Birds Paradise Natural Reserve (Kus Cenneti)in this district. Izmir Wildlife Park is also near Karsiyaka district. The park has many species in a large artificial natural habitat where visitors can observe wild life and animals. It's open for visitors everyday of the week, between 9 am until 6 pm.
[edit] Eat
İzmir's cuisine has a rich variety of dishes originated from the Aegean, Mediterranean and Anatolian regions. Natives of Izmir often start the day with kaynarca (toasted day-old bread, doused with hot meat juices). Some of the most common dishes are; Tarhana soup (made from dried yoghurt and tomatoes), İzmir köfte (meatballs), kadınbudu kofte ('shapely' ground meat patties), keşkek (boiled wheat with meat), zerde (sweetened rice with saffron) and mücver (made from zucchini and eggs). Olive oil is much-loved and used in most of the dishes. A boiled vegetable salad of radika (wild-growing chicory) is also very popular. There is a special kind of sandwich called kumru which is associated particularly with the Çeşme district and has cheese and tomato as well as sucuk inside. As for sweets, boyoz and lokma are popular pastries.
[edit] Drink
Try Turkish "rakı" which is a non-sweet, anise-flavored traditional drink. It's great with seafood and mezes which are popular in Izmir cuisine.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Budget
Alican Hotel Center [2] is a 3 star budget hotel, located in the heart of Izmir, within walking distance of shopping and business area, as well as near to some famous attractions. Phone# +90-232-484 2768.
Yumukoglu Hotel Center [3] is 3 star hotel, located in the city centre of Izmir, close to the Basmane train station. The hotel is close to the city’s main tourist attractions, business district, shops, restaurants and entertainment venues which makes it the perfect starting point for a visit to the city. Phone# +90-232-483 6565.
[edit] Mid-Range
Best Western Hotel Konak [4] has 78 standart guest rooms,1 disabled guestroom,4 suit bedrooms that are designed with phone,cable tv,wireless internet connection,central heating and air conditioning,hair dryer,minibar,safe-box. There's 24 hour room service available as well as dry cleaning and car park services. Phone# +90-232-489 1500.
Ege Palas Hotel [5] is a 4 star hotel, located in Alsancak at the heart of Izmir, offers a panoramic view of The Bay that will take your breath away. Phone# +90-232-463 9090.
[edit] Upscale
İzmir Hilton Oteli [6] is a 5 star hotel located on Gaziosmanpaşa Bulvari in the city center. This luxury hotel offers you a nice view of Izmir's old town. Its phone number is +90-232-497 6060.
Swissotel Grand Efes İzmir [7] is a 5 star deluxe hotel located in the heart of the Izmir’s commercial hub and overlooking the spectacular Kordon Promenade, on Turkey's Aegean Sea. As a member of “The Leading Hotels of the World”, Swissôtel Grand Efes, Izmir has 402 luxurious rooms including 55 elegantly decorated suites and 72 Swiss Executive Rooms. Phone# +90-232-414 0000.
As a member of InterContinental Hotels Group,Crowne Plaza Izmir [8]offers privileges and advantages of distinguished location embracing sea & city to guests travelling for business or leisure purposes and meeting delegates with five star hotel quality. Hotel is close to recreation area with shopping malls, restaurants, cafés and military museum ship. Phone# +90-232-292 1300.
[edit] Work
After Istanbul, Izmir is the second largest industrialized city in Turkey. The Aegean Region is the most active and important area for the shipping sector and port operations and Izmir is the main port of the region. Izmir also has a share of 9.3 % in the total manufacturing industry of Turkey. There are multinational companies located in Izmir such as General Motors, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Citibank, FTC / Lockheed, Delphi (USA), Samsung (S. Korea), Karstadt and Hugo Boss (Germany), Akzo Nobel and AVEBE (Holland), ELDOR (Italy), ABB and Volvo (Sweden). There's the Aegean Free Zone operating in the district of Gaziemir as the most successful free zone in Turkey with a trade volume of 1,2 billion dollars. Located just 4 km. from Izmir International Airport and 12 km. from the Port of Izmir, it is the only production-oriented free zone in Turkey.
[edit] Learn
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi [9] has Erasmus programme for international students.
Ege Üniversitesi [10] is located in Bornova with a campus of 3700 hectare of parkland. The Campus is equipped with parking areas, roads, traffic signs and direction signboards as well as internet and phone networks availability.
İzmir Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü Üniversitesi (The İzmir Institute of Technolog) [11] is a state university that places emphasis on research and graduate and undergraduate education in fields relevant to science and technology and on interdisciplinary studies. It was founded by central government to be a centre of excellence in science and technology and its language of instruction is English.
İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi (İzmir University of Economics) [12] is established by “İzmir Chamber of Commerce Education and Health Foundation” in accordance with the principles of Turkish Republic Constitution, Higher Education Law and Regulations about Foundation Higher Education Institutions numbered 2547. There are 5 Faculties, 2 Schools, 2 Graduate Schools, 7 Application and Research Centers at the university. And 17 different undergraduate educations, 11 different master’s education and 3 different doctoral educations are being executed in these academic units.
Yaşar Üniversitesi [13] is a "boutique university" which is loyal to scientific, ethical and moral values, responsive to global change, practising efficiency as an indispensable part of quality, developing rapidly in a disciplined manner and making efficient progress resulting in success, coordinated by carefully-considered decisions , educating experts who have the highest "designing skills", "project-based work experience" and "artistic sensitivity".
[edit] Keep connected
[edit] Internet
Wire-less internet is available in most of the places (hotels, cafes etc) and there are so many internet cafes around the city offering internet service for cheap prices.
[edit] Phone
You can get pre-paid phone cards for cell phones (Turkcell, Avea or Vodafone services) or international phone cards (sold at PTT) that can be used at public phones are recommended. Izmir's phone area code is (+90)232.
[edit] Post
Turkish State Postal Office (PTT) [14] has post offices in different areas of the city with reasonable postal service fees.
[edit] Safety
Even though Izmir is a big city like Istanbul, it's not as dangerous as Istanbul. In case of emergency you can dial 155 or call police department (Izmir Emniyet Mudurlugu [15] ) at +90-232-489 0500.
[edit] Stay Healthy
Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hastanesi (Children's Hospital) [16] -Phone# +90-232-489 5656.
İzmir Atatürk Eğitim Ve Araştırma Hastanesi [17] -Phone# +90-232-243 4343.
İzmir Şifa Hastanesi [18] -Phone# +90-232-446 0880.
SSK Tepecik Eğitim Hastanesi [19] -Phone# +90-232-469 6969.
İzmir Ege Sağlık Hastanesi [20] - Phone# +90-232-463 7700.
Bornova Şifa Hastanesi [21] - Phone# +90-232-343 4445.
[edit] Books
[edit] External links
Personal tools
It means you can use it, share it as long as you attribute to the author.
Copyright © 2012 - I was in Turkey Travel Community.